Joseph Watts
24 June 2013
Starbucks was attacked today for trying to “pick and choose” its tax bill after it offered to give £20 million to the taxman.
Margaret Hodge, chair of the influential Public Accounts Committee, said the offer would mean little if its “aggressive tax avoidance” in the UK continued.
In 2012, the firm said it would pay more corporation tax after it was revealed that it paid £8.6 million over 14 years, and nothing in the last three years.
Ms Hodge said: “I welcome that they recognise the importance of making a contribution, but it can’t be the case that they pick and choose.”
A Starbucks spokesman said yesterday it had decided to “forgo” deductions which would have allowed it to save £10 million in tax this year and next year.